Electric rat-trap.



J. GRESKO. ELECTRIC RAT TRAP. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1911.

, 1,033,579. Patented July 23,1912

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J. GRESKO.

ELECTRIC RAT TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1911.

1,033,579. Patented July 23,1912.

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c ATTORNEYS JOE GRESKO, OF BENWOOD, WEST VIRGINIA.

ELECTRIC RAT-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1912.

Application filed November 25, 1911. Serinl 110. 662,815.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jon Gnnsuo, a subject of the King of Hungary, residing at Benwood, in the county of Marshall and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elec- Rat-Traps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. P

This invention relates to electric rat traps, and the primary object of my invention is to provide a simple, durable, safe and portable trap that can be used in connection with a receptacle and a suitable source of elec trical energy for elcctrocuting rodents and disposing of the bodies, whereby the trap can be repeatedly used.

A. further object of this invention is to provide a trap embodying tiltable platforms and locking devices that are normally in an open circuit, said circuit being closed. by the body of a rat.

\Vitb. the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the novel construction. combination and arrangem nt of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed.

Referen e will now be bad to the drawings, wherein i igure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the trap. .2 is a longitudinal sectional of the same, and 3 is a front elevation of the trap.

trap in accordance with this invention compris a base plate 1 arranged upon the upper edges of a tank receptacle 2 adaptol to contain water or a liquid. disinfectant or deodorant, The base plate l is rectangular in plan and is pr vided wiib a central lrunswrse opening 3. Suitably supported adja ent o the tank or receptacle 2 are gangplanks 4 that permit or" a rodent easily rcnching the base plate 1.

b uiiably s cured to the side edges of the base plate 1 are side arms 5 having the upper ends thereof connected by a transverse handle 6 by which the trap can be easily carried. Connecting the arms 5, above the opening 3, is a trough 0r bait ho der 7 made o insulation material. as fiber and centrally of said trough there is a conta t piece provided with binding post 5) to which is connected a wire 10 that extends through an opening it in one of the side arms The win. 10 is connected to a suitable source of electrical encrgy, as a generator or -batteries ca able of producing a current of sufiicient v0 tage to electrocute a rodent.

Arranged upon the base late 1 adjacent to tlieooening 3 are tiltabl e platforms 12 mzfde of insulation, as fiber and mounted upon said platforms are contact plates 13 provided with bindingpqsts 14 extending through the platforms. Connected to the binding posts 14 are wires 15 that extend to the side arm 5 and then inwardly and through the opening 11, said wires being in an 0 cirdit with the same source of electrica energy as the wire 10. The platforms 12, at the ends thereof, are supported by the ends 16 of coiled sprin 17, said springs having the op site en thereof mounted in the bane pate 1,aa at 18. The inner edges of tbvplatforms 12 are provided with slotted keepers 12 and lime keepers are eng'aged by was 20 connecting oppositely dislatcla'q 21, pivotally connected, as at 22' to the inner mdea of the arms 5. The latches on also connected by contact bars 23 adapted w engage the contact piece 8.

A suitable bait can be placed in the tron? or holder 7 and in order for a rodent to-o tain the m it is necessary that the rodent mount one at the platforms and place the fore feet npinst one of the contact bars 23. The bar is immediately shifted toward and into engagement with the contact piece 8, and simultaneous wit this movement of the bar 23 the tiltable platform is released. Iminediately upon the contact bar 23 engaging the ,contact piece 8.the rodent is electrocuted and the tilting platform discharges the rodent in the opening 3 and into the ta k or receptacle 2. The springs su porting he tiltable platform restore sai platform to its normal position, the rod. 20 swinging into engagement with the keepers 19 by gravity.

The base plate 1 and the side arms 5 ar preferably made of wood.

What I claim is 1. In an electric rat trap, the combination with a suitable source of electrical energy, and a receptacle, of a base plate mounted upon the upper edges of said receptacle and provided with a central opening, side arms carried by said base plate, an insulated trough connecting said side arms, a contact piece carried by said trough and in circuit with said source of electrical energy, tiltab c spring supported insulated platforms carried. by said base plate, contact plates caried by said latforms and in an 0 en cirnlit with said contact piece and sai source of electrical ener y, keepers carried by the inner ed es of sai platforms, pivoted latches carried 1y the inner sides of said arms and engaging said keepers and adapted to be moved by a rodents body to release said keepers, and contact bars carried by said latches and adapted to engage said contact pieces to complete an electric circuit through the rodents body.

2. In an electric rat trap, the combination with a suitable source of electrical energy and a receptacle, of a base plate arranged upon the upper edges of said receptacle and having a central opening, side arms carried by said base plate,.an insulated trough conmeeting said arms above the opening of'said base plate, a contact piece carried by said trough and in circuit with said source of electrical energy, coiled springs carried by said base plate, 'tiltable platforms of insulation supported by said springs and adapted to be tilted by the weight of a rodents body, contact plates carried by said platforms and in circuit with said source of electrical energy, keepers carried by the inner edges of said platforms, and pivoted latches adapted to be moved by a rodent to simultaneously release said platforms and establish an electriecircuit between said platforms and said contact piece through the rodents body.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOE GRESKO. Witnesses:

Joznr ROSKOVIANSKY, Pam, Emma. 

